Today was a blessed day.

It dawned warm and clear, without a cloud in the sky.  A cool breeze was blowing, and in the small park chosen for the site of the ceremony, the dew glittered on the emerald grass.  This was the view that Tammy opened her eyes to, and she felt a thrill remembering what day it was.  It was the same for Lamarr, who had been awake earlier to see the sun rise, and he set about his prayers with joy in his heart.

Of course neither of them had much time to meditate.  Tammy’s bridal party, consisting of her two cousins as well as Lamarr’s sisters and sister-in-law, bustled her up and spent several hours tending to her hair, face, dress, and even her fingernails and toenails.  Lamarr had less fuss, but also less joy, for the women filled every moment of the preparations with laughter and stories.

An hour before the ceremony, Shawna appeared with lunch in a basket and shared it about with the bridal party.  Tammy, however, had chosen to fast with her husband, and so despite Shawna’s half-hearted grumbling, she ate nothing.

“It’s for the best, anyway,” she said.  “With my luck, I’d spill something on my dress.”

This made everyone laugh, but it would have been a sorrowful to ruin Tammy’s dress.  It was so beautiful, a lush fall of white fabric that reminded me of rapids on a river and clouds on a sunny day.  She wore also a red embroidered sash that Lamarr had received from his imam on his conversion day, for the purpose of giving to his future wife.  Tammy was always adjusting this sash or running her hands proudly along it.

Meanwhile Lamarr was arranging the last details of the ceremony, seeing to the arrangement of flowers, talking to the photographer, and after a quick moment to get dressed, greeting the guests that began to arrive.  It was to be a small ceremony, with only close friends and family coming, so he had the time to meet everyone in person.  He looked magnificent, tall and smiling in his black buttoned suit with red embroidery on his collar and his wrists.

Then it was time for the nikah, and the imam took his place before the small crowd.  Lamarr stood at his left, while Tammy was at his right, and the two could hardly keep their eyes from one another.  The imam, a wise old man who has been guiding Lamarr for many years, had tears in his eyes as he asked first Tammy, then Lamarr if they consented to be married of their own free will.  He held the marriage contract for each to sign, and then brought them together and placed their hands together.  They prayed together, facing the south-east, and then Lamarr kissed Tammy three times on her cheek and once on her forehead, and the imam declared them man and wife.

In that moment, I was so joyful that I closed my wings around them both and sang out.  In that moment, I know that they felt my presence, for their eyes opened wide, and they looked to the sky with wide, awed smiles.

“Blessings on you both,” I said to them.  “O, many blessings from this humble servant of my Father and yours.”

And then the moment was over, and everyone was cheering, and Lamarr laughed and swung his wife in a circle.

Then it was sunset, and they went then to the valima, which was such a feast and a celebration—Shawna had outdone herself with rich food filled with love for her new daughter.  And though Tammy wept when Lamarr proposed a moment of silence for the memory of her mother, she wiped away her tears and smiled when he turned to her and held out his hand for their first walk together as husband and wife.

And as they walked in a rain of flower petals into their new life, I left them.  They are blessed and loved, and they will be well.